For owner-operators and small carriers, mastering dispatching is a crucial skill for keeping cash flow steady, securing profitable loads, and ensuring efficient operations. Whether you're dispatching yourself or managing loads for other carriers, understanding load boards, broker relationships, and paperwork is essential to your profitability.
This guide covers essential dispatching strategies, from choosing the right load board to invoicing and getting paid faster - At Summar Financial we know that waiting on broker payments can slow down your business. That's why we provide fast, flexible, and transparent factoring to help you stay on the road and paid without the stress of delayed payments.
By implementing these strategies and leveraging the right technology, owner-operators and small carriers can streamline operations, maximize profits, and reduce the stress of managing logistics.
1. Choosing the Right Load Board
A reliable load board is the foundation of a successful dispatching strategy. It helps truckers find loads, evaluate broker reliability, and assess market rates.
- Truckstop Load Board Pro (FREE for the first month with Summar!): It is one of the most trusted load boards, offering comprehensive load searches, broker ratings, and market insights.
- DAT Power: A premium load board with advanced search filters and extensive broker participation. It is best for those managing multiple trucks and booking loads via desktop.
- TruckerPath: It is popular, user-friendly load board and trip planning app designed specifically for truck drivers.
Always verify broker ratings, payment terms, and factorability before booking a load. If a broker isn't factorable, you may face extended payment delays or added risk.
For a deeper dive into choosing the best load board, check out Top 5 Load Boards for Trucking Companies and Carriers.
2. Evaluating Brokers: Credit Scores & Payment Terms
Not all brokers are created equal. Working with reliable ones ensures steady cash flow and fewer payment issues.
- Credit Score: Stick to brokers with a score of 90 or higher to reduce non-payment risk.
- Days-to-Pay (DTP): Either look for brokers who pay within 30 days (or factor your loads) to avoid cash flow disruptions.
- Factorability Check: If you're using Summar's factoring, we'll screen brokers for you, ensuring they meet our approval criteria and reducing the risk of unpaid invoices. Use CargoBlaze's real-time credit check feature to verify brokers before accepting a load, helping you avoid unreliable payers.
For more tips on assessing brokers or factoring companies to evaluate them for you, read 5 Key Questions Small Carriers Should Ask Freight Factoring Companies.
3. Booking Loads: What to Look For
Before committing to a load, carefully assess key details:
- Rate & Mileage: Calculate the rate per mile (RPM), considering both loaded and deadhead miles.
- Weight Restrictions: Ensure your truck can legally scale the load weight to avoid fines and delays.
- Pickup & Delivery Details: Pay attention to appointment requirements, detention policies, and additional load instructions.
- Broker Contact: Always confirm load details via phone or email before accepting.
A strong cash flow foundation ensures better load selection and sustainability.
Learn more in: How to Build a Strong Cash Flow Foundation for Your Trucking Business.
4. Completing the Carrier Setup Packet
When working with a broker for the first time, you'll need to submit a Carrier Setup Packet, which typically includes:
✔️ Company Information (MC/DOT number, business address)
✔️ Factoring Details (Summar provides a Notice of Assignment to streamline payments)
✔️ Insurance Certificates (Some brokers may require their name as a certificate holder)
✔️ ACH Authorization (For direct deposit payments)
Most carrier packets are digital, but some brokers may require printed signed copies.
Are you still in the process of setting up your company? Check Starting a Trucking Company: How Much Does It Cost?
5. Receiving & Reviewing the Rate Confirmation
After setup, the broker will send a Rate Confirmation outlining:
📍 Pickup and delivery locations, dates, and times
📍 Load weight, commodity, and any special instructions
📍 Total agreed rate—verify it matches your negotiated amount
📍 Signature section—some brokers require carrier authorization before dispatching
Always double-check these details before signing and returning the document. Any discrepancies should be addressed before the load is booked.
6. Invoicing & Getting Paid Faster
Once a load is delivered, submitting a complete invoice package is key to getting paid on time.
✔️ Invoice (with broker load number reference)
✔️ Rate Confirmation
✔️ Bill of Lading (BOL)
✔️ Accessorial Receipts (if applicable)
📌 Pro Tip: While this process ensures your invoice is complete and ready for payment, you'll still need to wait for brokers to pay according to their terms. However, by partnering with Summar Financial, you can skip the wait with same-day to 24-hour payments through our true non-recourse factoring, giving you immediate access to your cash flow without the usual delays.
Trusted Dispatch Allies
Managing dispatching can be time-consuming and overwhelming, especially for owner-operators juggling multiple responsibilities. From navigating load boards to processing paperwork and communicating with brokers, the workload can quickly pile up. This is why hiring a professional dispatching company can be a game-changer. Dispatch companies handle these tasks, allowing carriers to focus on driving and growing their business.
Key benefits of working with a dispatching service include:
- Time Savings: Focus on driving while dispatchers handle paperwork and load coordination.
- Better Load Selection: Dispatchers often have access to premium load boards and industry connections.
- Increased Profitability: Experienced dispatchers can negotiate better rates and reduce deadhead miles.
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlined communication and load management improve productivity.
At Summar Financial, we collaborate with trusted dispatch allies who understand the trucking industry inside out. Our partners are familiar with our processes and CargoBlaze platform, making cooperation smooth and efficient. They help carriers find loads, manage paperwork, and optimize routes with ease, ensuring seamless communication between drivers, dispatchers, and clients.
How CargoBlaze Simplifies Dispatching for Owner-Operators & Small Carriers
Managing loads, dispatching efficiently, and keeping track of invoices can be a challenge for small carriers and owner-operators. That's where CargoBlaze, Summar's free TMS, makes a difference—providing a digital platform that connects carriers, dispatchers, and brokers in one place.
With CargoBlaze, you can:
- Assign and manage loads in real time so drivers and dispatchers stay on the same page.
- Submit invoices directly to Summar with one click, reducing wait times for payment.
- Run real-time credit checks before accepting loads to avoid non-payment risks.
- Keep BOLs, rate confirmations, and invoices secure and accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Track invoices, payments, and expenses in real time to maintain better cash flow.
- Monitor truck locations, ETAs, and delivery statuses to improve efficiency.
- Enable multi-user access for employees and dispatchers so they can manage loads securely.
- Allow drivers to upload paperwork from their phones, keeping documents organized and accessible.
Unlike expensive TMS solutions that charge hundreds of dollars per month, Summar provides CargoBlaze completely free. This means small carriers and owner-operators get a full-featured TMS at no extra cost—making it easier to manage operations, get paid faster, and reduce paperwork.
Final Thoughts
Successful dispatching isn't just about booking loads—it's about optimizing cash flow, minimizing risk, and using the right financial tools to stay ahead. With Summar Financial's dispatch allies, fast payments, broker risk protection, free TMS and no-reserve factoring, you can focus on running your trucking business without financial roadblocks.
Let's roll and grow together—get paid, stay protected, and keep moving with Summar!